When deciding which high school education students would like to attend, there are many factors to consider. While the prestigious appeal of a private school may sway a student towards fifty thousand dollars worth of education per year, the benefits of such a price may fall short as opposed to public school.
While the benefits of private school education are enticing, they should not overshadow the benefits of public education. Public schools still provide rigorous academic programs, as well as a variety of elective programs while remaining cost-effective.
In public schools, the pool of competition tends to be lower, allowing a higher number of eligible students to be accepted to the colleges they are striving for. One must consider the financial aspect of attending a private high school versus a public high school. If a student is attending a private high school, chances are they are in the financial position to attend more reputable and prestigious universities (as the price of those universities tend to be higher). So, two students with the same academic achievements may apply to two different schools based on what they are able to afford. This does not mean that the student is less smart, but merely choosing a more financially suitable school.
Furthermore, one could argue that it may be more difficult to gain admission to top universities as many classmates may be competing for the same acceptances.
In private schools, students are placed in a pool of other students who are competing for acceptance to a top university. Colleges consider multiple factors when deciding who to accept from a school. For one, colleges are weary of the amount of students they accept from one school. If, for instance, twenty students from the same school apply to one university, chances are, not all of the students will be accepted, despite the fact that all of the students could be completely suitable candidates. Due to the fact that many students attend private schools to increase their chances of getting into a top university, there will be many students from one school all applying to the same universities and not every student will get accepted.
“Bernards offers roughly the same classes that Gill does,” said Cameron Coates ‘26, a student at Gill St. Bernards private school.
High-performing public schools and private schools are comparable as public schools offer very similar opportunities and tools for educational success.
The major difference between public and private high school teaching is the fact that private school educators do not have to be certified to teach. While they may be an expert in the field they are teaching, they are not required to gain the credential that demonstrates an educator’s qualifications and legal authorization to be a classroom teacher. Public high schools look for and are required to have teachers who are certified by the state to teach a student.
“When I went to Delbarton…most of my teachers didn’t go to college for education. They would complete their studies and have a social studies or chemistry degree, but they did not have training on how to actually teach it,” said Dr. Neigel, Bernards High School principal, “I recall having some brilliant people as teachers, but they weren’t necessarily trained or prepared at the beginning of their career to work in a classroom to teach the content.”
The teachers at Bernards High School are all highly educated individuals whose career choice and passion is teaching.
“All of our teachers here are highly qualified and many have advanced degrees in their field. They all have certifications and go through rigorous training programs,” said Dr. Neigel, “and we have professional development programs [at Bernards High School] that we use as a school to help them become an even better teacher. So we have really high expectations for our teachers here at Bernards and that shows in the level of instruction.”
While nothing can truly prepare you for the independence and structure of college life, Bernards alumni who reach out to Dr. Neigel and the high school after they have graduated always mention being “well prepared, compared to people from other states or even students from private school.”
“With the AP classes I took, yes, [high school did prepare me for college] and the level of rigor in most classes,” said Sophie Lopez ‘24.
There are, however, some undeniable advantages to private schools, if the environment is more appealing. As well as this, private high schools have consistently high test scores; however, one must consider that private high schools have the ability to pick and choose which students attend the school whereas public schools are accessible to every student in a district.
“One thing I’ve noticed is the smaller classes,” said Coates, “I think it’s much easier to learn in a smaller class because there’s better engagement, more one on one time, and it’s a more comfortable atmosphere.”
The conditions of private high schools are more conducive to learning for some students. It all comes down to preference. If a student who can afford to attend private school and the conditions of attending a private school are appealing, then they should attend the school that is the best fit for them.
Moreover, a religious high school may be more appealing to a student with a religious background. And, if a student is attending a private religious high school, this may increase a student’s chances of attending a college with a religious background.
While, in New Jersey (where public schools are ranked top 3 in the nation), the education opportunities are similar between public and private schools, if the other benefits such as class sizes make learning more comfortable, then that is a choice that could be made if one has the means to do so. If one is unsure of which school to attend, public school should be dismissed. Students have the ability to succeed and thrive under the guidance of public education while receiving similar educational benefits to private schools.
The choice of which high school one decides to go to depends on a variable of factors: financial needs, location, preferences, etc. If a private school is more suitable to a student’s educational needs or preferences then they should attend a private school. And conversely, a public school may be more suited for the needs and preferences of other students, then that would be just as reputable. Both options are suitable choices of education.
